A tiny generator the size of a grapefruit could be made to
provide all the power your home needs --- from the waste furnace
heat now going up your chimney.

This is the conclusion of physicist and inventor Alvin M.
marks, who recently patented a new way to generate electricity
without moving parts, magnetic fields, or expensive chemical
reactions.

The new generator requires only a jet of gas containing liquid
vapor and the presence of an electric field and the presence of
an electric field that helps condense it into a fine,
electrically charged mist or aerosol.

What’s more, the little model aerosol generator sown here can
be made so efficient in converting heat energy to electricity
(up to 70%), that it promises to make obsolete conventional
thermal generating conventional thermal efficiency of 35%.
Reason: it converts heat and kinetic energy directly to
electricity.

How it works --- First consider a conventional
generator. As the armature is turned, coils of copper wire are
moved through a magnetic field. Free electrons in the wire
experience a force from the magnetic field that pushes them
along the wire, creating a flow of current.

Similarly, there is a field and motion in the aerosol
generator. The field is electrical rather than magnetic, but it,
too, extends through space to impart notion to electrons, which
combine with atoms of gas to form negative ions. The motion is
provided by the expanding gas itself. As it rushes through the
field, a flow of current (ions) is established.

There is, however, very little you can do with free ions unless
you can move large numbers of them onto a conductor. This is
where the aerosol comes in. Droplets of liquid condense out of
the gas stream and deposited on a collector electrode to release
their charges as useful electricity.

The drawing of the model aerosol generator above shows how the
hardware is arranged. Anions (negative ions) are created within
the field set up by the spike-shaped negative electrode and the
positive nozzle. In the working model, picking up water vapor.
It expands and cools in passing from the small pipe into the
charging chamber. Droplets of water immediately condense on the
anions, exploding into a fine mist through mutual repulsion.

The energy of the gas stream carries the aerosol out through
the nozzle of the positive-charging electrode and through the
conversion space. Droplets are deposited on the collector
electrode to create a flow of electricity in an external load
and back to the positive ground terminal of the generator.

Something for Nothing! --- While it looks as if the
generator is producing something for nothing, a close
examination shows where and how the work is done. As charged
particles shoot out of the nozzle, they create a “space charge”.
Additional particles run smack into this repulsive charge into
this repulsive field. As they fight their way against it, they
reach a high electrical potential, converting their heat and
kinetic energy to electricity.

Finally, they reach the collector. With their kinetic energy
gone, and at a much higher negative potential than the
collector, the charged particles are deposited around the walls
of the collector.

As the space charge gets greater and greater, nozzle pressure
must be increased to overcome it. This is done by adding more
heat primarily to the liquid, and it, in turn, heats the gas,
causing it to rise in pressure. The voltage and current produced
at the collector rise with the increase in nozzle pressure.

A Practical Generator --- A full-size aerosol, built
under government contract, is being tested at Marks Polarized
Corp., Whitestone, NY.

Will it work? “We’re sure of it”, Mark says. “We’re not sure of
the power output, but it will be from one to 10,000 watts ---
we’re hoping for 10,000”.

Figure 1 --- Diagram of working model of generator
shows how charged aerosol is formed and blown across conversion
space to collector electrode. In full-scale generator,
gas-stream pressure will be increased by using stream instead of
water to add heat energy. Voltage and current output go up with
pressure.

Figure 2 --- Real Work is Done: As space charge
in conversion space increases, like-charged aerosol is repelled.
To overcome “potential hill”, more energy is fed to generator to
increase nozzle pressure, power output.

Figure 3 (Not Shown) --- Inventor Alvin Marks adjusts
working model to light neon letters. Output of model is about
50,000 volts DC at 200 microamperes (10 watts). The tiny aerosol
charging power (one microampere at 3000 volts) is opposite in
polarity to generator output and is supplied by different power
source.

High Times (1981)

Harnessing Storm Energy

by

Gary Stimeling

Human ingenuity has had little trouble inventing ways to make
the most of our energy resources. However, waste means added
profit for power suppliers, so most of the technology remains on
the drawing board, ignored by the captains of industry.
Electrothermodynamic (ETD) energy is an example of this process
in action.

Ben Franklin’s dream of harnessing the storm principle has been
realized by ETD designer Alvin marks. In a thunderstorm, bolts
of lightning snap between pockets of positively and negatively
charged particles (ions) that have been created by the friction
of water droplets in turbulent winds. Marks’s charged aerosol
generators create their tempest in a torus (doughnut-shaped
bottle) filled with helium. Acting as a sort of gas flywheel,
the helium is driven around the doughnut by high-speed jets of
superheated steam. A small external electrical charge starts a
buildup of hot ions, which, as they cool, discharge and release
many times the electrical power that was put in --- much as a
car engine uses a battery to start but thereafter can recharge
the battery by driving a generator.

ETD is twice as efficient in converting fuel into electricity
as the mechanically driven magnetos now used. And its beauty is
that it can make every building’s heat system produce the juice
consumed by the occupants. Since heating needs a source of only
a few hundred degrees Fahrenheit, most of the energy of fuel,
which burns at several thousand degrees Fahrenheit, is normally
lost. The ETD system generates electricity at high temperatures
and uses only the residual heat for winter warmth. Thus, the
device could spell an end to utility-company monopolies and
regional blackouts as well as cut our consumption of fossil
fuels in half and save billions on oil imports.

Predictably, business and government response has been
underwhelming. Marks had a proven prototype by 1968 and
presented a $60-million changeover program to the federal Office
of Science and Technology in 1971. Although $1 million in
government grants has helped fund the researfh since 1958,
federal agencies have shown no interest in the commitment needed
for widespread use. Marks estimates that a mere $5 to $10
million more could put an ETD home heating system on the market
for $2000, including installation.

Response from industry has been even more anemic. Last August,
31 major corporations placed a full-page ad in the New York
Times proclaiming, “Energy is not a political issue. It’s an
issue of survival”, and calling on the private sector to invest
in new and alternative sources of energy. Marks wrote to all 31
and was not surprised to find that two-thirds answered only with
vague dismissals that showed “more interest in short-term profit
than long-term survival”. A few are intrigued enough to study
the idea, but readers with loose capital are urgently needed by
Alvin marks, marks Polarized Corp., 153-16 10th Ave.,
Whitestone, NY 11357.

Abstract ~ A solid state Quantum high Energy density
Storage or Retrieval device known as a quensor, and the
trademark ENSOR(TM), having an energy density of about 1-15
kwhr/kg, comparable to gasoline, or more, is described. A
fundamentally new principle is employed: A quensor film
comprises oriented molecules with donor and acceptor groups and
with metal layers on its surfaces. A dipole electric field may
be established in the gap between a donor and an acceptor.
Electric energy is stored in or retrieved from dipole electric
fields throughout the volume of the quensor film. Electric
energy is stored in the quensor film by charging the dipole
electric fields from an electric energy source. Electric energy
is retrieved from a quensor film by discharging the dipole
electric fields and supplying the energy to a load. Electric
breakdown in the film is avoided because positive and negative
electric charges in the film are balanced everywhere. Busbars
attached to the metal layers are connected to terminals for
charging or discharging the device. The manufacture of a quensor
film is described. A composite photovoltaic and quensor panel
for the storage or retrieval of solar-electric energy day or
night on demand is also described.

Abstract ~ An electrothermodynamic (ETD) generator and a
compressor is described for use in a Marks/Ericsson Cycle. New
equations are derived based on varying the electric charge
distribution along the flow axis and new principles based
thereon are used in the generator design.

Abstract ~ A bulk process is described which is capable
of producing large area sheets about 8 micrometers thick having
the property of light/electric power conversion at extremely
high production rates (many m<2>/s) at low cost ( DOLLAR
1/m<2>). The devices have an inherently high efficiency
60-80% when laminated in an assembly to utilize both resolved
light vectors. A light/electric power converter is described
comprising a sheet containing oriented dipolar conducting linear
structures forming an antennae array capable of absorbing light
photons and producing a unidirectional electric current. These
linear structures constitute submicron antennae and femto diode
circuit elements. The individual antenna-circuit elements are
self-ordered into the linear structure using a bulk process. The
process utilizes (1) electro-ordering a suspension of elongated
submicron metal crystals; or (2) molecules capable of absorbing
a light photon and converting its energy to electric energy; or
(3) visco-elastically stretch-orienting a light-electric
responsive preformed heteropolymer. These submicron linear
structures comprise a plurality of quantum well-steps, each with
an assymetric tunnel junction at one end, in ordered three
dimensional arrays. The manufacture uses a simple low cost bulk
process and does not employ the submicron facility needed for
the earlier planular process.

Abstract ~ A Femto Diode responsive to light
frequencies, is described. Quantum principles are utilized. The
Femto Diode comprises a submicron metal cylinder with an
assymetric metal-insulator-metal tunnel junction at one end and
a reflecting potential step at the other end. A light photon
having a quanta of energy is absorbed by an electron in the
cylinder producing an energetic electron. The cylinder acts as a
potential well for the energetic electron, which travels back
and forth in its own conduction band without loss of energy
until it passes through the junction. The kinetic energy of the
energetic electron is converted to electric energy at a greater
voltage on the other side of the junction. The energy conversion
is reversible. The Femto Diode may be used in light to electric
power conversion, a laser which converts electric power to light
power, 2D and 3D displays, high speed computers, communications
and other devices.

Abstract ~ An electrothermodynamic generator and a
compressor is described for use in a Marks/Ericsson Cycle. It
uses a charged liquid tin droplet/nitrogen aerosol for
heat/electric conversion at a maximum temperature of about 1800
K and a charged water droplet/nitrogen aerosol
electrothermodynamic compressor at 300 K in a Marks/Ericsson
Cycle which has a theoretical efficiency of 83%, and a practical
efficiency of 60% to 70%. An ETD compressor with a water charged
droplet is described. The other cycle components, comprising a
heat source, liquid tin loop, heat exchangers, water loop and
liquid pump are not here considered.

Abstract ~ These inventions relate to novel advances in
Electrothermodynamics (ETD), also known as charged aerosol,
heat/electric power generators: (1) "Method III" two-fluid mixed
flow comprising a supersonic jet expanding conically within a
subsonic flow, separated by a boundary layer in which the
charged aerosol forms downstream of the orifice, at a cross
section of at least 100 times the orifice section; and in which
the electric charge density of the charged aerosol decreases
along the jet axis, whereby substantially all of the kinetic
power of the jet is converted to electric power within the jet,
there being no ejector. (2) An array of supersonic jets
utilizing Method III. (3) An array of supersonic jets utilizing
Method III without separating duct walls in which "convection
cells" provide return flows, forming a plurality of TORON
configurations. (4) A supercritical Rankine cycle in a single
stage employing Method III.

Abstract ~ On a Charged Aerosol Wind/Electric Power
Generator, electrically charged water droplets are dispersed
into the wind stream. Using Induction Electric Charging, a water
jet issues under water pressure from a small diameter (25-50 mu
m) orifice, and the jet breaks into charged droplets. A plate
orifice 35 mu m diameter, and 25 mu m long appears optimum; a
single jet from such an orifice at a water pressure of 15 psig
produces net electric power output substantially exceeding the
hydraulic and electric power inputs. A practical Wind/Electric
Generator utilizes a multi-orifice array scaled to a kilowatt or
megawatt level. A water recovery and pressure regeneration solar
and/or gravitational means is described by which water is
conserved and the water power is free, so that there is a net
output electric power without external power input of any kind,
except natural wind and/or solar power.

Abstract ~ This invention relates to a high efficiency
device for the direct conversion of light power to electrical
power. Present photocells for accomplishing this purpose are
well known to the art and have a theoretical efficiency not
exceeding about 20%. In practice, realization of efficiency of
about 10% has been achieved, but ultimately the theoretical
limitation is an upper limit which cannot be exceeded by devices
utilizing known construction. The present device differs from
the prior art devices in that it utilizes a plurality of dipole
antennae for absorbing light photons, employing an alternating
electrical field of said photons to cause electrons in the
dipole antenna to resonate therewith and absorb electrical power
therefrom, with means for rectifying said AC power to DC, said
DC being accumulated on conducting busbars from the plurality of
antennae and associated rectifying circuits.

Abstract ~ These inventions relate to novel advances in
Electrothermodynamics (ETD), also known as charged aerosol,
heat/electric power generators: (1) A new more efficient,
compact converging/diverging configuration comprising a torus of
revolution (TORON) used with a gas flywheel. (2) A "Method II"
two-fluid mixed flow ejector/converter in a gas flywheel loop
employing a primary steam or a high molecular weight driver jet
such as a fluorocarbon containing charged aerosol water droplets
and a low molecular weight carrier gas such as hydrogen or
helium with an electro-negative gas additive, in a Rankine cycle
including a vapor/gas and liquid separator with a bypass to the
ejector/converter loop. (3) A "Method III" two-fluid mixed flow
comprising a supersonic jet expanding conically within a
subsonic flow, separated by a boundary layer in which the
charged aerosol forms downstream of the orifice, at a cross
section of at least 100 times the orifice section; and in which
the electric charge density of the charged aerosol decreases
along the jet axis, whereby substantially all of the kinetic
power of the jet is converted to electric power within the jet,
there being no ejector. (4) An array of supersonic jets
utilizing Method III. (5) An array of supersonic jets utilizing
Method III without separating duct walls in which "convection
cells" provide return flows, forming a plurality of TORON
configurations. (6) A supercritical Rankline cycle in a single
stage employing Method III. (7) A method IV two-fluid cycle uses
charged aerosols in an inert gas and operates on an
Ericsson-type cycle. (8) Optimum operating conditions are
defined for Methods II, III, and IV.

Abstract ~ In an E.H.D. generator employing a
charged aerosol as working medium, an efficiency approaching
that of the ideal Carnot cycle is achieved by employing a large
ratio of liquid mass to gas mass in the isothermal phases and a
small ratio of liquid mass to gas mass during the adiabatic
phases of the cycle. Heat may be injected isothermally into the
working medium simultaneously with the extraction of electric
power. The liquid component of the aerosol is used for
heat-transfer. When the liquid component is large, most of the
heat resides in the liquid which can thus maintain the carrier
gas at uniform temperature, pro- ducing isothermal working.
Similarly, when the liquid content is low, adiabatic working is
achieved. Liquid may be sprayed in to increase its proportion
and subsequently removed by standing or by centrifuging in the
discharging region. The ratio of liquid mass to gas mass varies
from 10 to 0À01. The aerosol is simultaneously charged and
formed by forcing liquid 21 out of a capillary tube 20 whose tip
is charged or is adjacent a charging ring 25 whose field assists
in accelerating the droplets to the velocity of the carrier gas
stream 22. The kinetic energy of the droplets and gas is turned
into electrical energy in the conversion space 30, this energy
being withdrawn in the collector 31 and fed out at lead 32 to
load 33. It is des- cribed (Fig. 3, not shown), how a battery of
capillaries associated with charging screens may be used. A
single loop circuit for recircu- lating both gas and liquid in
the necessary temperature cycle, is described (Fig. 2, not
shown). A multistage system in which the heat rejected from one
cycle is used in a following cycle of lower temperature, is also
described (Fig. 3, not shown). The use of a heat-exchanger is
avoided by transferring the liquid directly from one cycle to
the next. Suitable working substances are water-steam or air;
and gallium- nitrogen.